NextThreeDays: Event Display

Class: Metalsmithing 101 with Nell Fredericksen
Venue: The Floyd Center for the Arts, Floyd
Directions: Google Map Link
Date: Monday, August 5, 2013
Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Event Types: Arts & Theatre, Speaking Engagements
Cost:
Jax Member $405.00 General Public $500.00 Deposit $125.00

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Description:
The Jacksonville Center for the Arts offers their week long Metalsmithing 101 class with Nell Fredericksen from August 5-9th from 9am - 5pm daily.

Class Description:
Students will be introduced to many techniques that will allow them to manipulate metal to create jewelry and/or small sculptural objects. This is a highly technical discipline, and as such, mastering individual techniques will be emphasized and applied to 2 specific projects. In addition, each student will be encouraged to use principles of basic design and personal expressiveness to produce unique, functional and sculptural pieces.

Course objectives: 1- To provide knowledge of and insight into contemporary jewelry and metalsmithing practices. The basic techniques of sawing, filing, soldering, surface texture (stamping, hammering, heat textures, overlay and solder inlay), and simple fold forming/bending will be covered and applied to individual unique design ideas. 2- To begin to conceptualize in the third dimension and/or translate 2 dimensional ideas into 3-D forms. Each piece designed will have height, width, and depth and still be “wearable”. 3- To become familiar with contemporary styles and design trends in metalsmithing by looking at the work of many artists working in the field. 4- To develop observation, critical thinking and problem solving skills as they apply to wearable art.

On the development of skills: Jewelry and fine metal work is essentially sculpture. However, there are two important differences: scale and function. You need to think of your designs as sculptural, but at the same time they must be functional (wearable) and small in scale. With that in mind, the designs you pursue in this class should go way beyond what we typically see in mass produced jewelry – the idea here is to be fresh and innovative.

Practice of the techniques is imperative (especially when working with silver). Paper models and copper prototypes are helpful. Unlike painting or drawing, there is very little opportunity for redo’s in metal. Every step of metal work is semi-permanent. It is very difficult to change a design or erase aspects once it has been partially executed in metal. So much of metalsmithing is centered on hand skills and tool application and thus these will be emphasized. However, I do not want to let that overshadow the importance of the conceptual aspects of the work. Keep in mind that your design concepts can be social, political, global, or personal and I hope that in teaching you the techniques I can strengthen your aesthetics and concepts.

Materials Fee: $100-$150
Minimum Enrollment, 3: Maximum Enrollment, 5
Minimum Age: 18

For more information, visit: http://jacksonvillecenter.org/2010-classes/08-august/metalsmithing-101-jwl080513/ or call 540-745-2784 or email info@jacksonvillecenter.org.